St. Louis City SC fires HC Bradley Carnell months after signing extension

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Amid a disappointing 2024 season for St. Louis City SC, with the club posting the fourth-worst points tally in MLS this season, the club has announced they have sacked head coach Bradley Carnell.

"Given Bradley’s many contributions to the club, this was not an easy decision," said CITY SC Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel in a press release. "Unfortunately, based on our Year 2 results to date, we believe a coaching change is in the best interest of the club as we regroup and look to improve both our performance and our results."

Technical Director John Hackworth will manage the team on an interim basis as CITY SC begins the search for a new head coach.

The decision to sack Carnell comes a little over five months after the club gave Carnell a contract extension back in January 2024.

Carnell was City SC's first manager, hired in January 2022. During the club’s inaugural campaign in 2023, City SC finished at the top of the Western Conference with a mark of 17-12-3.

Under Carnell, City SC became the first expansion team to win a conference regular-season title and record 17 wins in the post-shootout era.

City SC's second season has been nowhere near as successful as their first, with the club only being able to rack up 19 points through 20 matches in the 2024 MLS campaign, which is the fourth-lowest points tally in MLS. Only the San Jose Earthquakes, Sporting KC and Chicago Fire have fewer points than City SC.

Hackworth's first match in charge will come on Wednesday, July 3 when City SC hosts the Earthquakes. The Earthquakes sacked head coach Luchi Gonzalez in June, with assistant Ian Russell now managing the club on a interim basis.